While Kos is totally, completely, unequivocally wrong about left-wing special interests dividing the left, it is nonetheless the case that the various left wing groups have utterly failed to provide each other with mutual support. The problem is that bridges aren't being built in the first place, not that they are being burned.

All of the various civil liberties groups ought to be actively lending support to each other for one simple reason: every time the elite manages to legitimize dividing humanity into first and second class citizens, they make it easier to shift more people into that second class. Why aren't there women's activists, union activists, prisoners' rights activists, homeless activists, gay activists, religious minority activists, hispanic activists, or even environmental activists at rallies for African American rights -- and vice versa?

Easy. We're all united in our shortsightedness and stupidity. We've bought into the Republican/DLC lie that what we have is a laundry list of demands. What we really have is one demand: that all people should be treated like, well, people.

The sickening irony of it all is that the elite oppressor class is a tiny minority, and the oppressed are the majority, and they've bamboozled us -- fully aided and abetted by our own foolishness -- into thinking of ourselves as little islands of minority identities. Humanity is not a fucking minority; inhumanity is.

---Cthulhu for President: Why vote for the lesser evil?

From a moral standpoint, it's never too late. Unfortunately, my views seem to be in the minority at this juncture because I have absolutely NO problem with the right to marry. NONE. And the argument that "it's biblical" holds no water w/ me, b/c there's lots of things in the bible that are routinely ignored by Christians (None of us are supposed to eat seafood, but I don't see Focus on the Faci...er, Family boycotting Red Lobster) and quite frankly, ought to be (you know,  the one that says "slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear..."). The state can't force a religion/church to recognize it, but religion/church (and that's all the opposition is, really) can't force the state from a legal union. It's just that simple.

For that reason and others, I have had longstanding issues w/ the Church. The hurricane made me go back, but I'm taking it slow b/4 I join again. But I tell you what: I won't be joining and spending my money in a place where I have to hear a constant harangue about gays & lesbians. As a straight woman, I feel emotionally assaulted by it.

I prefer to call it human rights rather than civil rights b/c I know folks get hung up a/b the terminology. And it makes me sick, too, b/c w/o Bayard Rustin there would be no Dr. King at the March on Washington or likely no Dr. King doing any nonviolent resistance.

I'm not sure of what the winning argument would be, b/c there are so many reasons for the homophobia: some are just straight lackeys; cut from the same cloth as those who opposed Dr. King and any other person who would challenge segregation (as are the wingnut jackasses they suck up to); some find it easier to bash gays and lesbians than to talk a/b issues like, oh, I dunno...poverty; some I think, are genuinely uncomfortable with out gays & lesbians; some may have issues w/ sex; some don't see gay men as real men, which is damning given those who equate civil rights with manhood; some may privately agree w/ marriage rights but know that it will face a tough sell w/ their congregation, to say nothing of being worked over by the Deacon and/or Trustee Board (in many cases, they have hiring/firing ability--whoever said there were no politics in church?!?!?!)

Can't hear ya, Peach!